Saturday, October 22, 2011

Black Cohosh (Actaea racemos ) Health Benefits and Side Effects

Black Cohosh is a herbaceous perennial plant, genus Actaea, belonging to the family Ranunculaceae, native to eastern North America. The herb has been used in traditional medicine as analgesic, sedative, diuretic, emmenagogue anti-inflammatory agent and to treat rheumatism, symptoms of menopause, uterine cramps and muscle pain, etc.. Native Americans have used the root of the herb to treat snake bite.

Health benefits1. Alternative to hormone replacement therapyBlack cohosh contains high amount of phytoestrogen of which helps to occupied the estrogen receptors or enhances the estrogen levels in the women in the stage of menopause, thus it may be considered as alternative to estrogen therapy, according to the study of "Black cohosh: an alternative therapy for menopause?" by Mahady GB, Fabricant D, Chadwick LR, Dietz B., posted in PubMed(1)

3. Vasomotor symptomsBlack Cohosh hass exerted the property of estrogenic effect in treating symptoms of hot flashes of women with deficiency of estrogen, as a result of natural or surgical menopause, according to the study of "[Efficacy and safety of Black cohosh (Actaea/Cimicifuga racemosa) in the treatment of vasomotor symptoms--review of clinical trials].[Article in Polish]" byKanadys WM, Leszczyńska-Gorzelak B, Oleszczuk J., posted in PubMed(3)

4. Tumors Beside is proven in some study of the use of Black Cohosh to treat symptoms of menopause, some researchers suggested that black cohosh also seems not to exhibit phytoestrogenic activity and is in fact possibly an inhibitor of tumor growth, according to the study of "Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa [L.] Nutt.): safety and efficacy for cancer patients" by Walji R, Boon H, Guns E, Oneschuk D, Younus J., posted in PubMed(4)

7. AntioxidantsPolyphenols in Black cohosh may be considered as an antioxidant which help to fight against the forming of free radicals cause of DNA damage and guarding our body against foreign invasion such as bacteria and virus, according to the study of "Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa L.) protects against menadione-induced DNA damage through scavenging of reactive oxygen species: bioassay-directed isolation and characterization of active principles" by Burdette JE, Chen SN, Lu ZZ, Xu H, White BE, Fabricant DS, Liu J, Fong HH, Farnsworth NR, Constantinou AI, Van Breemen RB, Pezzuto JM, Bolton JL., posted in PubMed(7)

8. Osteoblasts Isopropanolic extract (iCR) from (black cohosh) beside is best known for its use in alternative to treatment of menopausal symptoms, it also stimulates osteoprotegerin production by human osteoblasts of that contribute to the positive skeletal effects, acording to the study of "Isopropanolic extract of black cohosh stimulates osteoprotegerin production by human osteoblasts" by Viereck V, Gründker C, Friess SC, Frosch KH, Raddatz D, Schoppet M, Nisslein T, Emons G, Hofbauer LC., posted in PubMed(8)

Side Effects1. Autoimmune hepatitisThere is some reports that the use of black cohosh may cause Autoimmune hepatitis, according to the study of "Autoimmune hepatitis associated with the use of black cohosh: a case study" byCohen SM, O'Connor AM, Hart J, Merel NH, Te HS., posted in PubMed(a)2. Coagulation activation and fluid retentionBlack cohosh may cause Coagulation activation and fluid retention, according to the study of "Coagulation activation and fluid retention associated with the use of black cohosh: a case study" by Zimmermann R, Witte A, Voll RE, Strobel J, Frieser M., posted in PubMed(b)3. Black cohosh should be used with caution during pregnancy4. Genral side effects of black cohosh includesheadache, stomach upset, nausea, vomiting and dizziness in some people and if overdose5. Etc.